Project Description:
Acting4DHH is a project by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community in Thessaloniki, Greece, aiming to improve social well-being through citizen social science. The project is co-designed with Web2Learn, an R&D expert on citizen science (CS). Acting4DHH deploys citizen science activities designed to overcome knowledge, skills and communication barriers of DHH individuals and to leverage civic engagement and inclusion in society. The project adopted a holistic approach to DHH’s social well-being that integrates CS for accessibility. In this framework, Acting4DHH emphasises strengthening collaboration between Deaf and Hearing citizens as a crucial component for inclusion and community engagement. The project was developed by the Deaf Association of Northern Greece (EKVE).
Project Type: Kick Starter
Theme: Citizen Science With and For Communities
Mentor:Stefanie Schuerz
Empowering Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals through Citizen Social Science
Authors: Katerina Zourou, Stefania Oikonomou (Web2Learn)
The Acting4DHH project (Citizen Social Science for the Benefit of the Deaf Community) aims to provide Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) individuals with the necessary knowledge and tools about citizen social science (CSS), empowering them to become active agents in improving their social well-being. The Greek research and development company Web2Learn conducted the project in collaboration with the Deaf Association of Northern Greece (EKVE) and focused on the DHH community in Thessaloniki. An introductory workshop, organised by Web2Learn and hosted at EKVE’s premises, took place on September 13.
Group photo from the introductory workshop. September 13, 2024
The project features two CSS initiatives led by DHH participants:
- Mapping challenges and opportunities in DHH-hearing collaborations and communication in everyday settings (September–October 2024). The videos created by DHH participants are available here.
- Mapping non-accessible areas and services in Thessaloniki using the IMC app (November–December 2024).
DHH participants during the 2nd meeting for the 1st CSS action. October 20, 2024
The Acting4DHH project emphasises the importance of strong collaboration between DHH and hearing citizens to promote genuine inclusion and accessibility. Since DHH individuals are often underrepresented in decision-making processes that affect their well-being, these two CSS initiatives aim to address this imbalance and amplify their voices.
This project builds on our previous work with the DHH community in Thessaloniki, during which we organized citizen science workshops—initially through the Erasmus+ CitSci4All project and later through the Horizon Europe ECS project.
Thanks to the IMPETUS Accelerator program—particularly its introductory sessions and mentoring support—our research team gained valuable insights into:
a) making our project more open, inclusive, and accessible to our target group;
b) applying appropriate evaluation methods to assess the project’s impact on the DHH community; and
c) effectively communicating and disseminating our project’s findings.
*all persons in the images have provided consent forms that confirm our right to share these images.
We are currently implementing the second CSS initiative while continuing to share DHH participants’ perspectives and experiences through video testimonials on our social media channels (such as Instagram). The project will conclude with a public event in January 2025. However, we look forward to exploring future collaboration opportunities with the DHH community through CSS beyond the project’s official end date.
Finally, we are pleased to report that the Acting4DHH project has fostered positive attitudes and a sense of empowerment among DHH participants. They view the project as both a learning opportunity and a community-building initiative, allowing them to connect, network with hearing individuals, and advocate effectively for their social well-being needs.
DHH participants in the cinetic activity of the introductory workshop. September 13, 2024
